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@latten tates igateat @titan SEBEUS G. MAINE, OF'BSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.Leners Para# No. 63,065, dans March 19, 15u37.

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TO ALL WHOM IT MAY'CONGERN: l

' Bc it known that I, SEBEUS C. MAINE, of Boston', in the'oountySuifolk, and State of Massachusetts, have invented an improved BalancedBed and Bedstead, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings makingpart of this specification, in which- Figure l -is a perspective view ofmy improved bedstead as it appears when closed and standingin'the parloror Place where it is intended to be used. i

Figure 2 is a view of the bcdstead and bed when the bcdstead is openedand the bed exposed and ready for use. i

Figure 3 is the balance-spring.

The class of bedsteads most in use are objectionable because of theamount of room required and the exposure of the bed and bedding to view,while other classes of bedsteads are still more objectionable, for whilethey obviate in a great measure the iirst objection, viz, the spacerequired and the exposure of the bed and bedding during the day, still,when used, the room required for the case or shell when removed, thewearing of carpets, the noise and labor of getting the bed ready foruse, and in many cases the exceeding high cost, putting them beyond themeans ofthe common people, arc great objections to their use. Myinvention has for its object to remove the abovementioned dieulties, andto give to all a bedstead requiring the least possible space, to beoperated without noise' or labor, and at a price within the means ofall, and consists in an upright case or frame resembling any article offurniture desired, a book-case, ward-robe., or sideboard. The front maybe plain, panelled, or it may contain a mirror, as the one hereindescribed. The front or face ofthe piece of furniture selected for abedstead becomes, when used as a bedstea-d, the bottom of an inner easewhich contains the bed and bedding. The inner case or frame whichcontains the bed is secured by bolts or screws to a shaft crossing theframe at any desired distance from the bottom, the shaft turning onproper bearings at each end. Under this shaft, upon the bottomof-the'frame, and parallel with the shaft, is a iat spring secured tothe bottom in the centre, and` attached to the shaft with chains or anysuitable'cord or strap from thc ends of the spring, (coiled or woundsprings can be uscd,) attached to the back or side of the outer case orframe. When aspring of proper strength isl thus applied, the bed in theinner case can be dropped or swung out from the frame without noise, andrequiring ,but little strength, as the increased .weight of the innercase and bed is balanced by the increasedpower of the spring'. 'When theinner case has been lowered to a level with the bearing of the shaft,two pieces of the finish ofthe inner ease drop-with their own weight andbecome legsor supports for the bottom of the bedstead. The only laborrequired in closing this bedstead is to put the hand under it and giveit a gentle motion upward,'when, with the assistance of the spring, thewhole is at once transformed to its former shape. I

To enable others skilled in the art to' understand' and use myinvention. I will now proceed to describe the manner in which I havecarried it out. In the said drawings` l Figure lis a case provided witha mirror in the front and commode under the mirror, with a top or coverthat may be vnfed to a level and used as a shelt` or toi1et-tab1e,'thewhole making a neat' and useful piece of furniture.

l Figure 2 represents the outer frame as seen in g. 1, also the innerframe d, willen contains the bed, while a is the spring attached to thebottom of the frame, In the shaft-to'n'hichthe frame containing the bedis secured, and c the chain connecting the ends of' the spring to theshaft; g is the cap which holds the spring in its place; e is a sectionof the ornamental nish on the fro-nt of the case as it appears whenclosed, while represents another section ofthe same finish dropped byits own weight and forming legs for the inner frame.

Operation'.

If it is desired to convert this piece of furniture into a bedstead andbed, take hold of the frame of the mirror, g. 1, and pull it gently fromthe top of the frame; the weight of the inner frame and bed will give itmotion, while the motion will be controlled and regulated by the spring.When t'he inner case with the bed has been dropped. to a line -at rightangles withthe outer ease or frame,the weight of the inner oase and bedbecomes greatest, acting asia lever 'upon the shaft; at the same timethe power of the spring is greatest and acting also upon the shaft. Thesame balancing power may be seen in closing; as the bed advances towardsthe caseV the weight becomes less until it stands erect in the frame,lwhen a pounds weightv will hold it in its place. So, too,

with the spring, for when the bed stands erect the spring also is atrest. l

What I claim as vmy invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,as an improved bedstead and bed, 1s- The balance-spring a, or itsequivalent attached to shaft b by chains or their equivalent, inlcombination with frames or cases as vshown in figs. 1 and 2, andoperated Asubstantially asset forth.

C. MAINE.

Witnesses:

A. Gr. WILKINSON, C. D. SMITH,

